Head Start Receives $500 Grant From KCCF

Kosciusko County Head Start, a program of Cardinal Services, has received a $500 grant from Kosciusko Endowment Youth Services (KEYS), the youth philanthropy program of the Kosciusko County Community Foundation.

KEYS is comprised of 20 students who attend the four high schools in Kosciusko County. Members meet once a month during the school year to practice philanthropy and build leadership skills. Annually, KEYS grants approximately $20,000 to projects that bring innovative and educational resources to students throughout Kosciusko County.

The funds awarded to Head Start have helped establish a new calm down room at the main Head Start building at 811 S. Buffalo Street in Warsaw. The sensory-friendly room helps children build self-regulation, coping, and problem-solving skills while giving teachers a space to provide individualized support when a child feels overwhelmed.

The new space is already being used thanks to the grant, which funded the purchase of several items including a child-sized sensory beanbag chair, weighted lap pad, and a variety of calming sensory toys. There is also an interactive Velcro wall hanging that helps children focus on calming strategies. A child can choose an icon matching their mood, affix it to the pad, and then select another icon showing a corresponding action they can take to address their feelings.

Head Start Health/Mental Health Specialist Stacy Kauffman, who led development of the room, said Head Start teachers already see the benefits.

“One child was struggling every day with all the noise during the cleanup period between play and lesson time. Now, he finishes his cleanup and goes to the room, sometimes with a friend, while the other kids finish up,” Kauffman said. “It’s become a great resource for him. He’s a much happier child having this quiet time. He’s able to focus, participate in class, and learn.”

Cardinal Executive Director Marcie Arndt praised the support for the calm down room.

“We are grateful to the students of KEYS for their support of this project.” Arndt said. “The calm down room is a prime example of how we strive to meet the needs, not of generic populations, but of individuals. This is true throughout our programs. We are very proud of that distinction and continued growth within programs like Head Start.”